Spun Out
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Team Owner
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From: sw Ohio
Spun Out
I was on my way to school today and when I was going around a turn (not a corner) I went sideways. I was only going about 20mph, light on the throttle, and ive taken that turn much faster before and never had problems. I dont understand what happened, my tires are relatively new and I just raised the air pressure to 40 psi last night because they were low. The same thing happened to me a few months back in my 2WD truck on the very same turn.
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From: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
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St. Jude Donor '16
40psi.. 
should be 30 to 32 psi...
should be 30 to 32 psi...
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From: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
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St. Jude Donor '16
Originally Posted by 4Ever21
oh really? the tire says max is 44 psi. I have 16/55/255 on my '85
Last edited by FASTAZU; Feb 14, 2006 at 11:45 AM.
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by 4Ever21
oh really? the tire says max is 44 psi. I have 16/55/255 on my '85
40psi will reduce traction a noticeable amount, but not to the extent that you will spin on normal turns at low speeds at small throttle openings.
Something else was going on (fluids on the street/tires, wet leaves on the road, sand, etc.) that the high pressures exacerbated.
Your Corvette should have a placard on the door that says 30psi is the recommended pressure for normal driving. Vary from that at your own risk.
I normally run 30psi. If I go up to even 35...I can definitely feel the difference.
Larry
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Last edited by rocco16; Feb 14, 2006 at 04:26 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by 4Ever21
i'm gonna end up getting myself killed by putting too much air in the tires, i'm letting some air out as we speak. Thanks guys
The pressure rating on the tire's sidewall is only the tire manufacturer's upper safe limit on inflation, it is NOT the recommended inflation (which the manufacturer cannot provide, as they do not know what vehicle the tires will be used on, etc).
Also bear in mind that if the weather is very cold, your tires will not grip like they will in warm weather, because the tread compound will tend to harden in lower temps. Make allowances for this, or you may wind up in trouble.
Be well,
SJW
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Kingwood TX
Same turn , 2 different vehicles ,same results . My guess something contaminating the road surface .On a curve some truck has barrels of fluid sloshing out onto the road surface. Could be a route this truck travels frequently.
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From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Yeah, there are a couple of turns that I travel quite frequently that I have to watch in both my Vette and truck. The road is just worn down and the pebble/rock under layer is very, very slick. I have a rough time getting traction in the dry weather, much less when it's wet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Leonardtown Maryland
I have a ritual of checking the air pressures on all my vehicles every Saturday morning. Must be a carry over from my military days when I had to shine my shoes regularly. It always makes me feel like I accomplished something for the day!
If you have slid on the same corner maybe a trash or fuel truck makes takes the same route and spills something on the road?
If you have slid on the same corner maybe a trash or fuel truck makes takes the same route and spills something on the road?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Poop land
Originally Posted by 4Ever21
oh really? the tire says max is 44 psi. I have 16/55/255 on my '85
Do your tires serve as an emergency floatation device?? Or did you mean a 255/50/16 tire?? 
J/K...
I bet they do help you out quite a bit when you are parallel parking and there's a 4" curb to your side.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by C4driver99
Like said above over filling your tires cause premature wear and less traction. 
Be well,
SJW
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From: La Grande Oregon
As you run the car your tires will heat up,(it depends on how cold/ warm outside) and may gain a couple of pounds, in the summer,running through the mountains at speed i can gain between 2-4 pounds depending on how hard i scrubbed them in the corners, i start at 30psi. ... 
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40 psi is too much for sure. Always go by the sticker on the door(unless it's a Ford Explorer, that sticker is just plain incorrect).
On my 95 they recommend 35 psi for speeds over 150 mph.
For highway driving and road trips, I'll keep 35 psi, but for around town driving and some fun, I'll go down to 32.
For racing, on my six speed car with street tires, I'll have 44 in the front and 28 in the rear.
My automatic will take 45 up front and 22 in the rear.
Note that the psi will go up as the tire heats up and also note that running too low will cause excessive heat and can lead to failure.
The engineers of our cars have done extensive testing so it's best to follow their recommendations.
On my 95 they recommend 35 psi for speeds over 150 mph.
For highway driving and road trips, I'll keep 35 psi, but for around town driving and some fun, I'll go down to 32.
For racing, on my six speed car with street tires, I'll have 44 in the front and 28 in the rear.
My automatic will take 45 up front and 22 in the rear.
Note that the psi will go up as the tire heats up and also note that running too low will cause excessive heat and can lead to failure.
The engineers of our cars have done extensive testing so it's best to follow their recommendations.
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Im wondering if most of the problems associated with the tire blowouts on the Ford Exploders werent due to underinflation. I bet most of the people that drive those never check the tires. Like you said, pressure gets low the tire gets hot and fails in a hurry.